Rail Strike Won`t Affect Metra Riders

A national rail strike threatens to hit next week, but 75,000 Chicago area commuters who were at risk of losing service won an apparent reprieve late Thursday.

Officials of the International Association of Machinists notified Metra, the Chicago area commuter rail agency, that crews will operate local passenger trains even if there is a national walkout.

Service that could have been shut down included the three lines of the Chicago & North Western as well as the Burlington Northern and the Norfolk and Southern.

Earlier Thursday, management of the C&NW announced that the railroad had asked the union ``not to disrupt the lives`` of its commuters or create ``an unnecessary burden`` on the Chicago area, where the Kennedy Expressway rehabilitation and scores of other road repair projects are under way.

The North Western is one of about 40 railroads that could be struck by the machinists if a settlement is not reached by 11:01 p.m. Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Amtrak service in the Chicago area and throughout the nation remains threatened by a shutdown.

Because Metra`s two Milwaukee District commuter lines also use the facility, that could mean Milwaukee trains will be forced to terminate somewhere short of the Loop. Shuttle buses would carry riders downtown, officials said.